Eastin Announces Plans to Run for State School Post

Declaring that she intends to focus on the success stories among California's public schools, Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Fremont) on Tuesday announced her candidacy for the position of state superintendent of public instruction.

The position has been vacant since Bill Honig was removed from office in February after being convicted on conflict-of-interest charges. Gov. Pete Wilson has nominated Los Angeles businessman Sanford Sigoloff to fill out the remainder of Honig's term, but Eastin is the first announced candidate for the post, which is up for grabs in the June election.

Eastin--who said she will need to raise $2 million to $3 million to mount a statewide campaign--has already collected endorsements from several Democratic legislators, including Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer. She is also expected to win the endorsement of the California Teachers Assn.

Her campaign platform will include plans to bring more technolaogy to the state's schools, institute statewide performance standards, increase parental involvement and give local schools more decision-making authority.